WSJ: UAE Secretly Carried Out Strikes on Iran

The United Arab Emirates secretly conducted military strikes on Iran during the recent conflict involving the US and Israel, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The alleged attacks included a strike on a major Iranian oil refinery and marked a significant escalation in the UAE’s role in regional security dynamics amid growing tensions with Tehran. Make us preferred on Google Flip Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied (Illustrative photo)A photograph taken from the southern area of Tyre shows smoke rising from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the area of Ras Al-Ain on May 12, 2026. (Photo by KAWNAT HAJU / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google The United Arab Emirates secretly carried out military strikes on Iran during the recent regional conflict, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, May 12, citing people familiar with the matter. According to the report , one of the strikes targeted a refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf in early April, causing a major fire and knocking much of the facility’s capacity offline for months. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The UAE has not publicly acknowledged involvement in the attacks. The report said the strikes marked a major shift in the UAE’s posture, showing the Gulf monarchy as an active participant in the conflict rather than a neutral regional actor. According to WSJ, the UAE intensified military cooperation with the United States during the war and increasingly viewed Iran as a direct threat to its economic model and regional stability. “It’s significant to have a Gulf Arab country as a warring party that struck Iran directly,” Middle East analyst Dina Esfandiary told the newspaper. The report said Iran launched more than 2,800 missiles and drones at the UAE during the conflict – more than against any other country, including Israel. The attacks disrupted air traffic, tourism and business activity in the Emirates and contributed to a shift in Abu Dhabi’s strategic outlook toward Tehran, according to Gulf officials cited by WSJ. Speculation about the UAE’s involvement had circulated since March after unidentified fighter jets and drones were reportedly spotted operating over Iran. Other Topics of Interest Finland Urges Direct Europe-Russia Talks Finnish President Alexander Stubb said European governments should begin direct dialogue with Russia, arguing that US policy no longer fully serves European interests. He outlined potential outcomes for the war in Ukraine but said a peace agreement is unlikely this year. Stubb stressed the need for coordinated European action and deeper engagement with Ukraine as part of long-term security planning. Open-source analysts cited by the newspaper pointed to possible use of French Mirage fighters and Chinese Wing Loong drones, both operated by the UAE military. The Pentagon and the White House declined to comment on the report, while the UAE foreign ministry referred to earlier statements asserting the country’s right to respond to hostile acts, including by military means. On Monday, US President Donald Trump said the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran remains in place but is “barely holding,” while sharply criticizing Tehran’s latest proposal to resolve the conflict. “I would say that the truce is based on an artificial life support system,” he said. The US president reiterated that any agreement with Iran must include a commitment that Tehran abandon its nuclear ambitions, calling his own approach straightforward. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue through intermediaries, however, despite the ongoing diplomacy, Trump signaled that the situation remains uncertain. The comments come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East , even as both sides reportedly explore pathways to de‑escalation and a potential agreement. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.